V. Called and Entrusted

Sent to Participate in God’s Work

1. Calling and Mission Are Closely Connected but Have Different Emphases

Calling concerns God’s summons to people, and its specific meaning must be understood in the context of the passage. “Mission” emphasises the responsibility entrusted to those whom God calls, which they must carry out faithfully. People bear responsibilities in their lives as created beings, and Christ also gives His disciples an explicit gospel commission. Responsibilities arising from creation and the gospel commission are connected, but each has its own specific content and needs to be understood separately.

From the beginning of creation, God entrusted human beings with governing the created world. He also placed Adam in the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it (Genesis 1:26–28; 2:15). These are human responsibilities before the Creator. Sin distorted how people fulfil them, but did not remove their accountability to God.

Christ’s commission to His disciples to bear witness to Him and make disciples of all nations belongs to His redemptive work. Family, work, and social responsibilities cannot replace gospel witness. Nor can gospel ministry justify neglecting family, honesty, or justice. Proclaiming Christ and living in a way that pleases Him should be consistent with each other.

Mission must be understood in relationship with God. People know and follow the Lord and, in the light of His word, discern and carry out entrusted responsibilities. We can make plans and use our abilities, but our personal desires need to be guided by God’s truth. We should not begin by assuming that our plans must be His will.

Christ has already made the shared gospel mission clear, while individuals participate in different ways. Some preach, some teach, and some offer hospitality, give, pray, or walk alongside others. Members of the church need to work together according to their gifts and the needs they encounter. We do not have to wait until we can summarise “my unique mission” in a single sentence before taking up responsibilities that are already clear. As we move through different stages of life, the ways we bear responsibility may also change. These arrangements become clearer gradually through prayer, discernment together with other believers, and actual service.

2. Moses: God Sends, Provides, and Requires a Response

God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, called him by name, told him of the Israelites’ suffering in Egypt, and sent him to Pharaoh to bring the people out (Exodus 3:1–10). This mission arose from God’s will and action.

Moses asked, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” God answered, “Certainly I will be with you” (Exodus 3:11–12, excerpts). Moses relied on the God who sent him and on His presence.

Later, Moses worried that the people would not believe him and protested that he was not eloquent. God promised to help him speak and arranged for Aaron to assist him. Yet Scripture also records that when Moses continued to resist, God became angry with him (Exodus 4:1–16). God understands human limitations and provides help, but also requires people to respond to His commands.

Moses’ experience reminds us that carrying out what God entrusts to us requires reliance on Him and acceptance of the help He provides. We still need to take training seriously, use our abilities well, and face our limitations honestly. We rely on the God who sends us. The help He gives enables us to bear responsibility in faith and learn to obey the commands He has already revealed.

3. God’s Work Is Greater than the Responsibility Entrusted to Any Individual

We may speak of “my mission,” but need to remember that the responsibility entrusted to us is only one part of God’s work. No person or organisation can encompass all of God’s work within its own plans. God promised Abraham that all families would be blessed, sent Moses to lead the people, and sent prophets to convey His word. At the centre of the history of redemption is the redemption Jesus Christ accomplished through His death and resurrection.

After His resurrection, Christ said to His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” He then breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:21–22, excerpts). The passage connects the disciples’ commission with the Holy Spirit. They are sent to bear witness to Christ, but cannot undertake or repeat His unique work of redemption.

Acts 1:8 records that the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples to bear witness to Christ to the ends of the earth. Matthew 28:18–20 explains that, with all authority in heaven and on earth, Christ commands them to make disciples of all nations, baptise them, and teach them to observe His commands. He promises to be with them always. This mission includes proclaiming the gospel and helping people continue to know the Lord and obey His word. The church needs to undertake such teaching and pastoral care in its shared life.

Carrying out this shared mission therefore requires the church to respond together. We need to ask: What has God already revealed? In today’s circumstances, which responsibilities should I bear, and with whom do I need to work?

Participating in God’s work requires both earnest action and acknowledgement of our limitations. The church bears witness to Christ, and individuals bear different responsibilities within it. We need to pray, discuss, support one another, and be willing to have our plans examined. God is the One who accomplishes redemption and the Lord of mission. We have received grace and been entrusted with responsibility, and we serve alongside other believers.

4. Responsibilities Differ, and Faithfulness Includes Working Together

Paul describes the church as a body. Though its members are many, they belong to one body, have different gifts and functions, and need and care for one another (1 Corinthians 12). Peter likewise urges believers to serve one another with the gifts they have received, as good stewards of God’s grace, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:10–11). Gifts therefore carry a responsibility to serve others. Those who preach publicly need the other members, and those who quietly care for people in need must not be undervalued.

Applying this principle to life, we should also respect the responsibilities people bear according to their roles, abilities, and circumstances. Some preach publicly; others walk alongside particular people. Some cross cultures to proclaim the gospel; others work honestly in their professions. Some bear leadership responsibilities; others faithfully raise children. These responsibilities cannot all be classed as the same kind of commission, and their worth cannot be judged solely by visibility or scale.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus describes a master returning to settle accounts with his servants and commending those who were faithful (Matthew 25:14–30). The parable appears in the context of His teaching about watchfulness. It reminds them to take entrusted responsibilities seriously as they await His return. We should use what we have received faithfully, rather than measure ourselves by what has been entrusted to others or reduce the parable to a formula for achieving measurable results.

Faithfulness includes using gifts well, fulfilling responsibilities wholeheartedly, receiving encouragement and correction, working with others, and being willing to change when mistakes are discovered. Those with leadership responsibilities need to listen to others. Those serving need to keep their commitments and seek help when something exceeds their abilities.

We take the responsibilities we have received seriously, work with other members of the body when our abilities are limited, and entrust to God the outcomes we cannot control. Faithfulness involves both doing our best and relying humbly on Him. All glory belongs to Him.